Written Answers Friday 9 March 2007

Scottish Executive

Apprenticeships

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the participation rate of young people in the Stirling local authority area has been in taking up new apprenticeships in each of the last three years and what action will be taken to deliver more places and encourage more young people to enter apprenticeships.

Allan Wilson: The number of modern apprentices (MAs) broken down geographical area and by year is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. This information is not held centrally.

  However, Scottish Enterprise have published these figures for 2005 and are in the public domain. These can be found on their website:http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedotcom_home/training-providers-top/training-providers/performance-and reports.htm?siblingtoggle=1.

  The MA programme continues to be demand led and are available to those aged 16 and above who are in employment. There have been no new targets set for additional places, however, we will continue to work with the Enterprise Networks to ensure that there continues to be at least 30,000 MAs in training as set out within the Partnership Agreement.

Arts

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what scholarships or grants, other than the UK Dance and Drama Awards, may be available to Scottish-domiciled students undertaking dance and drama training in England.

Nicol Stephen: Full details of the support available to Scottish-domiciled students at higher education-level undertaking dance and drama training in England can be found on the Student Awards Agency Scotland website www.saas.gov.uk .

  Other than accessing the Dance and Drama Awards (DADA) scheme, Scottish students studying a non-advanced dance or drama course at a private provider outside Scotland, can apply for funding to help with living costs support through their local education department.

Bridges

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has anent the average daily flow of traffic crossing the Erskine Bridge since the tolls were removed compared with the average daily flow of such traffic in the comparable period prior to the removal of the tolls.

Tavish Scott: Tolls were removed from the Erskine Bridge on 1 April 2006.

  Average daily traffic flows for the Erskine Bridge for comparable months are as follows:

  

 
2005 (Tolls)
2006 (Post Tolls)
Increase


April
27,907
32,876
4,969


August
28,276
37,061
8,785


December
24,534
29,996
5,462



  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Civil Service Relocation

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the relocation of an Executive agency to Stirling.

George Lyon: All local authority areas, including Stirling, are considered for all location reviews.

  A full list of location reviews is available on our website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Relocation/StoryFar.

  We are committed to the principle of dispersing public sector jobs all across Scotland and work with local authorities and local enterprise companies, including Stirling, to identify potential locations that would be most suitable for the bodies or units covered by the policy.

Communities

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the level of expenditure by Communities Scotland on infrastructure in the Stirling local authority area and what major projects have been completed in that area since 1999.

Rhona Brankin: Communities Scotland has invested some £25 million on the provision of affordable housing in the Stirling Council area since 1999. An element of this investment has been directed towards providing infrastructure works to facilitate the provision of affordable housing.

  Since 1999, Communities Scotland has provided funding to a range of significant housing projects in the Stirling local authority area such as Westhaugh, Cornton; Endrick Gardens, Balfron; Lagrannoch, Callander and Allan Park, Stirling.

Digital Technology

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its Broadband for Scotland’s Rural and Remote Areas project.

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which communities in the Central Scotland region will not be broadband-enabled by the end of 2007.

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has had with BT concerning any technical problems preventing consumers in Stirlingshire from obtaining broadband connections as a result of being located too far from their telecom exchanges.

Nicol Stephen: Broadband has already been delivered to every Scottish community and to over 99% of Scottish households. As announced on 21 December 2006, the Executive is committed to further extending the coverage of broadband in areas where it is currently unavailable.

  We have been actively working with BT to invest an initial £1.5 million to increase broadband access. The first areas to receive support will be outlined by the end of March.

  We are also developing proposals for an additional £3.5 million of funding for broadband solutions and these will be announced in due course.

Digital Technology

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has invested in providing broadband connectivity in Stirlingshire.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive has invested £16.5 million (including support from the European Regional Development Fund) implementing a Scotland-wide project which has delivered broadband access to every Scottish community. A separate figure for broadband investment in Stirlingshire is not available, but investment in the wider East of Scotland area, including Stirlingshire, amounts to £2.7 million.

Education

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the grant aided expenditure allocation for education was to Stirling Council in each year since 1999, also expressed as an amount per pupil.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  

 
Grant Aided Expenditure Allocation (£ Million)
Per Pupil (£)


1999-2000
 43.056
 2,874


2000-01
 44.223
 2,952


2001-02
 49.637
 3,313


2002-03
 54.996
 3,671


2003-04
 60.711
 4,053


2004-05
 66.909
 4,466


2005-06
 71.311
 4,760


2006-07
 72.828
 4,861



  Notes:

  (i) Grant aided expenditure (GAE) allocations, derived from aggregating a number of sub-categories, are taken from the GAE Green Books for 1999-2000 to 2006-07. Pupil numbers (including pre-school, primary and secondary pupils) are as provided by local authorities and used in the 2005-06 GAE Green Book which formed the base year calculation for Spending Review 2004.

  (ii) The GAE allocations given are neither budgets nor spending targets for the education service. They are simply one group of components used in distributing the total block grant that the Executive provides to local authorities. It is for each local authority to decide how best to allocate the resulting overall block grant across all their services, based on local needs and priorities.

Education

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the grant aided expenditure allocation for pre-school education was to Stirling Council in each year since 1999, also expressed as an amount per pupil.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  

 Year
Grant Aided Expenditure Allocation (£ Million)
Per Pupil (£)


 1999-2000
 -
 -


 2000-01
 -
 -


 2001-02
 -
 -


 2002-03
 2.576
 1,295


 2003-04
 2.596
 1,305


 2004-05
 2.741
 1,378


 2005-06
 2.866
 1,441


 2006-07
 2.885
 1,450



  Notes:

  1. Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) figures are from the GAE Green Books for 2002-03 to 2006-07. The pre-school pupil numbers represent the number of three and four year olds, as provided by local authorities and used in the 2005-06 GAE Green Book which formed the base year calculation for Spending Review 2004.

  2. The GAE allocations given above are neither budgets nor spending targets for the education service. They are simply a component used in distributing the total block grant that the Executive provides to local authorities. It is for each local authority to decide how best to allocate the resulting overall block grant across all their services, based on local needs and priorities.

  3. Pre-school education was not included in the local government finance settlement until 2002-03.

Education

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the net revenue expenditure on pre-primary education was in the Stirling local authority area in each year since 1999.

Robert Brown: The following table gives details of the net revenue expenditure on pre-primary education in Stirling since 2002. This information has only been supplied from 2002-03, as prior to this date pre-school education was not included in the local government finance settlement. The change in the funding methodology used means that expenditure figures are not comparable.

  Stirling Council – Net Revenue Expenditure on Pre-Primary Education

  

 Year
£000


 2002-031
 4,140


 2003-04
 4,839


 2004-05
 4,862


 2005-06
 5,472



  Source: LFR:1 Returns (Education).

Employment

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the overall change has been since 2003 in the number of jobs in the (a) Stirling parliamentary constituency and (b) Central Scotland region.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the number of employee jobs in 2003 and 2005 (latest data) and also the net change in levels of employee jobs between 2003 and 2005 for the Stirling parliamentary constituency and the Central Scotland region.

  Table 1 Employee Jobs in 2003 and 2005 for Selected Areas and the Change in Employee Jobs Between 2003 and 2005

  

 
 2003
 2005
 Change Between 2003 and 2005


Stirling
 33,700
 36,900
 3,200


Central Scotland
 109,600
 115,500
 5,900



  Source: Annual Business Inquiry

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. These figures are aggregates from which agriculture class 0100 (1992 SIC) have been excluded. The Scottish Executive are currently working on agricultural data at parliamentary constituency level as noted in the answer to question S2W-31371 by Ross Finnie on 5 February 2007.

  3. These statistics are work place based.

  4. Parliamentary constituency based on 1995 revision.

  5. Central Scotland is defined as the Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire local authorities.

Employment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many women were working part-time in (a) 1979 and (b) 2006 and, of these, how many were earning below the lower earnings limit for national insurance.

Nicol Stephen: Information on the number of women working part-time in 1979 is not held centrally. The number of women working part-time in October to December 2006 was 508,000. This is estimate is taken from the Labour Force Survey.

  Information on the number of women working part-time earning below the lower earnings limit for national insurance in 1979 is not held centrally. In 2006 it was estimated that 124,000 female part-time employees earned below the lower earnings limit for national insurance which was £84 a week. This estimate is taken from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.

  Both of these estimates are based on sample surveys and as such are subject to a degree of sampling error.

Employment

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the claimant count (a) number and (b) unemployment rate have been in each ward of Stirling Council in the most recent month for which figures are available.

Nicol Stephen: The Claimant Count gives the number of people claiming unemployment related benefits and is produced by the Office of National Statistics. The following table shows the claimant count number and the claimant count rate for each ward in Stirling in January 2007. Please note that the rates are calculated using the resident working age population rather than the economically active population.

  Table 1 Claimant Count Unemployment for Wards in Angus, January 2007

  

 
Number
Rate


Bridge of Allan
25
1.0%


Logie
3
0.1%


Wallace
71
2.7%


Raploch
122
5.1%


Town Centre
91
3.3%


Argyll
61
2.4%


King’s Park and Cambusbarron
31
1.4%


Torbrex
32
1.4%


Broomridge
70
3.0%


Borestone
74
3.8%


Bannockburn West
66
2.6%


Bannockburn East
43
1.9%


Polmaise
79
2.6%


Sauchenford
91
3.3%


Dunblane West
28
1.1%


Dunblane East
24
0.9%


Highland
52
2.4%


Teith
23
1.0%


Trossachs
35
1.4%


Campsies
28
1.2%


Strathendrick
35
1.5%


Blane Valley
17
0.6%


Total
1,101
2%



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Data are numbers of people claiming unemployment related benefits.

  2. Proportions for wards are calculated using the mid-2005 resident working age population.

Energy Efficiency

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to ban incandescent light bulbs in favour of energy efficient alternatives.

Nicol Stephen: Under the Scotland Act 1998, energy efficiency is reserved, except for the promotion of energy efficiency other than by prohibition or regulation (Schedule 5, Section D5). The Executive supports the promotion of a wide range of energy efficiency measures including use of energy efficient light bulbs.

Enterprise

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist small businesses in the Stirling local authority area to employ more staff.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is strongly committed to the start up and growth of small businesses – in Stirling and throughout Scotland. Support for the sector is mainly a matter for the Enterprise Network, although direct support from the Executive includes Regional Selective Assistance (RSA). RSA is the Executive’s main national grant scheme of financial assistance to industry, aimed at encouraging investment and job creation. It is a demand-led scheme and is available to small and medium-sized enterprises within 15 wards in the Stirling local authority area. Details can be found on the RSA Scotland website (www.rsascotland.gov.uk).

Environment

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many carbon offsetting businesses currently operate in Scotland, giving their names.

Nicol Stephen: I am unable to provide the specific information requested as this information is not held centrally.

Environment

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what knowledge it had of Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s carbon sequestration rights agreement with Future Forests Limited, now The CarbonNeutral Company.

Nicol Stephen: An agreement of this nature would be an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. As such, the Scottish Executive would not expect to be notified of it. The Scottish Executive is however aware of the agreement.

Graduates

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many graduates from the Stirling local authority area have returned there to work in each of the last three years for which the information is available.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the number of graduates at post graduate and undergraduate level (first degree or sub degree) who were domiciled in the Stirling local authority area, studied at a UK higher education institutions (HEIs) and were employed in Stirling six months after graduation. This information is available from a voluntary survey of students conducted six months after graduation.

  All graduates of Stirling domicile have been included since to determine how many of them left their local authority area to study, and then returned to work in their local authority area requires information which is not available centrally.

  Number of Stirling Domiciled Graduates from UK HEIs Working in Stirling Six Months After Graduation

  

 
 Postgraduate
 Undergraduate
 Total


2002-03
 35
 120
 155


2003-04
 35
 115
 150


2004-05
 40
 135
 175



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Notes: The table includes full-time and part-time students graduating from a postgraduate or undergraduate course at a UK HEIs, including the Open University. Students who continue their studies after graduation are not included. Work status may be permanent or temporary. All numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the take-up rate has been, as a percentage of those eligible, for the Minor Ailment Scheme since its launch in July 2006.

Lewis Macdonald: Approximately 26% of those eligible to register for the Minor Ailment Service were registered by the 31 January 2007.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what publicity campaign it has undertaken about the Minor Ailments Scheme since its launch in July 2006.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive provided patient information leaflets and posters to all community pharmacies in Scotland when the Minor Ailment Service was launched in July 2006. Information has also been made available through NHS24 and the NHS Helpline. In addition a number of NHS boards have undertaken local promotional activities.

Higher Education

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students from low income backgrounds in the Stirling parliamentary constituency have had their university fees paid from public funds in each year since 2002-03.

Nicol Stephen: The following table highlights the number of fees paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to students at higher education institutions from low income backgrounds who were domiciled in the Stirling parliamentary constituency in each year since 2002-03:

  Students from Low Income Backgrounds in the Stirling Parliamentary Constituency who have had their University Fees Paid, 2002-03 to 2005-06

  

 Academic Year
 


 2002-03
 195


 2003-04
 210


 2004-05
 200


 2005-06
 215



  For the purposes of this answer students are defined as being from ‘low-income’ backgrounds if they have declared parental/spousal income details of not more than £17,500, which was the SAAS means-tested threshold in 2005-06 for receipt of full financial support through the Young Students Bursary (YSB). For comparable results over the period in question this threshold has been kept constant, even though the full YSB threshold has changed in this period.

  Students who have not declared parental/spousal income details and those that are classed as exempt from parental contribution have not been included in the above table.

Homelessness

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the causes of homelessness and reduce the prevalence of homeless households in the Stirling local authority area.

Rhona Brankin: The prevention or alleviation of homelessness, is a responsibility of Stirling Council. Stirling Council’s homelessness strategy outlines the action being taken by the council to prevent homelessness and to alleviate the problems caused by homelessness. Stirling Council are undertaking a number of initiatives aimed at addressing the causes of homelessness within the area, but also at ameliorating the impact of homelessness, making use of funding provided by the Executive. Stirling Council is continuing to develop its homelessness prevention services by working with statutory and voluntary agencies in its Homelessness Partnership.

Housing

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what amount of private sector grant was approved by Stirling Council for aids and adaptations for householders in each year since 1999.

Rhona Brankin: The amount of private sector grant approved by Stirling for carrying out improvements for people with disabilities is shown in the following table.

  Amount approved for Aids and Adaptations in Stirling: 1998-99 to 2005-06

  

 Year
Amount Approved(£)


 1998-99
 106,000 


 1999-2000
 226,000 


 2000-01
 144,000 


 2001-02
 154,000 


 2002-03
 177,000 


 2003-04
 195,000 


 2004-05
 203,000 


 2005-06
 289,000 



  Source: IMP1B returns submitted by local authorities to the Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division (Housing Statistics).

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. The figures shown represent amounts approved for work identified by local authorities specifically as improvements for disabled. They do not include grants for more general improvements which may include elements of benefit to people with disabilities, such as improved accessibility.

Income

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest annual estimate is of the number of people in the Stirling parliamentary constituency who earn the national minimum wage or below.

Nicol Stephen: The preferred source for earnings estimates is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which is carried out by the Office for National Statistics.

  The estimated number of employees earning the minimum wage or less in Stirling parliamentary constituency in 2006 (latest data available) is 1,100.

  This estimate is based on a sample survey, and as such, is subject to a degree of sampling error.

Legal Services

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the gender breakdown is of staff in each grade in (a) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and (b) its Legal and Parliamentary Services department.

Elish Angiolini QC: The following table shows Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and Legal and Parliamentary Services (LPS) Staff in Post (Headcount) as at February 2007 by level/pay band and gender.

  COPFS

  

 Level/Pay Band
 Total Staff
 Female
 Male


 SCS
 38
 14 (37%)
 24 (63%)


 G
 22
 9 (41%)
 13 (59%)


 F(L)
 111
 64 (58%)
 47 (42%)


 F
 10
 3 (30%)
 7 (70%)


 E(L)
 276
 177 (64%)
 99 (36%)


 Trainee Solicitors
 41
 33 (80%)
 8 (20%)


 E
 31
 12 (39%)
 19 (61%)


 D
 215
 144 (67%)
 71 (33%)


 C
 152
 126 (83%)
 26 (17%)


 B
 648
 503 (77%)
 145 (23%)


 A
 9
 1 (11%)
 8 (89%)


 Totals
 1,553
 1,086 (70%)
 467 (30%)



  LPS

  

 Level/Pay Band
 Total Staff
 Female
 Male


 SCS
 25
 7 (28%)
 18 (72%)


 NA*
 12
 5 (42%)
 7 (58%)


 C2
 42
 23 (55%)
 19 (45%)


 C1
 58
 36 (62%)
 22 (38%)


 B3
 6
 2 (33%)
 4 (67%)


 B2
 11
 7 (64%)
 4 (36%)


 B1
 4
 2 (50%)
 2 (50%)


 A4
 2
 2 (100%)
 0 (0%)


 A3
 17
 13 (76%)
 4 (24%)


 A2
 14
 7 (50%)
 7 (50%)


 Totals
 191
 104 (54%)
 87 (46%)



  Note: *NA: not assimilated into an Executive grade – these staff are trainee solicitors.

Less Favoured Areas

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the status of the recent Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payment of £40 million, indicating what balance remains to be paid and whether it was an additional or an advance payment.

Ross Finnie: The recent Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) payment of £40 million was a supplementary payment to LFASS 2006, provided to address cash flow problems arising from changes in the timing of LFASS. The value of LFASS 2007 will be £61 million.

NHS Hospitals

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the accident and emergency unit at Monklands Hospital will remain open until the accident and emergency unit opens at the new Larbert hospital.

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether accident and emergency services at Wishaw and Hairmyres hospitals will be improved before the accident and emergency unit at Monklands Hospital closes.

Lewis Macdonald: Yes. When I approved NHS Lanarkshire’s service change proposals on 21 August 2006, I made clear that new and replacement services must be in place before existing services are discontinued. This stipulation was accepted in the board chair’s reply on 11 September 2006. The general requirement to have new and replacement services in place includes accident and emergency services at Larbert, due to be commissioned before the end of 2009. Residents in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth area will access emergency services at Larbert.

  NHS Lanarkshire will also ensure that the necessary enhancements to services at Wishaw General and Hairmyres Hospitals are in place before any changes to accident and emergency services at Monklands Hospital are implemented.

NHS Hospitals

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how the cost of proposed works to improve the accident and emergency units at Wishaw and Hairmyres hospitals compares with the estimated cost of upgrading the accident and emergency unit at Monklands Hospital if it were to be retained.

Lewis Macdonald: NHS Lanarkshire considered options within its A Picture of Health strategy in the context of the totality of emergency services for all Lanarkshire residents. In particular the board looked at a range of criteria relating to the selection of two emergency care sites and one planned care site within Lanarkshire.

  Relevant information on the comparative costs and other factors relating to upgrading of accident and emergency facilities was reported to the Board of NHS Lanarkshire and considered at its meeting on 27 June 2006. The board paper in question is a public document and is available on NHS Lanarkshire’s website at http://www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C088F45F-D848-4977-8007-272E0A961567/0/PoHReporttoBoardJune06App6Finance.pdf.

NHS Hospitals

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what services will be offered at the proposed community casualty unit in Cumbernauld.

Lewis Macdonald: The services that the Cumbernauld Community Casualty Unit (and the similar units in Lanark and at Monklands, Wishaw General and Hairmyres Hospitals) will provide, include treatment for:

  cuts and abrasions

  minor burns

  simple fractures

  minor eye infections/foreign bodies

  sprains/strains/dislocations

  bites

  infected wounds

  minor head injuries

  Around two-thirds of patients attending hospital accident and emergency departments do so for minor injuries or ailments.

NHS Hospitals

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed community casualty unit in Cumbernauld will have facilities to handle emergency chest conditions, such as asthma attacks.

Lewis Macdonald: The appropriate response to emergency conditions, such as acute asthma attacks, is a 999 emergency call to the Scottish Ambulance Service, which will bring an emergency response. The community casualty unit in Cumbernauld will not be configured to receive such cases. Where an individual with those symptoms presents at a community casualty unit, staff will have training to manage the situation, but will immediately arrange to transfer the patient, as an emergency, to the nearest emergency care site. In the case of Cumbernauld, this will be at Larbert after completion of the planned changes to emergency arrangements in Lanarkshire and Forth Valley.

National Parks

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have visited the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park in each year since its establishment.

Sarah Boyack: This information is not held centrally.

  However, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority have estimated visitor numbers of 2.06 million in 2002, 2.18 million in 2003, 2.15 million in 2004 and 2005.

National Parks

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been made available to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority in each year since its establishment.

Sarah Boyack: The Grant-in-Aid allocated to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, since is establishment, is as follows:

  

 Year
Cash Grant-in-Aid Budget to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
(to the nearest £100,000)


 2002-03
£4.8 million


 2003-04
£5.5 million


 2004-05
£6.1 million


 2005-06
£6.6m (including £0.4 million capital)


 2006-07
£9.9m (including £3.4 million capital)

National Parks

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs are supported by the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

Sarah Boyack: The number of full time equivalent staff employed by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority in 2006-07 is 130.8.

National Parks

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the financial contribution made by the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park to the national economy.

Sarah Boyack: The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park was designated in 2002 and it is too early to carry out an assessment of the financial contribution made by the National Park to the local or national economy. However, it would be my intention to commission an analysis of the impact of the park which would inform the quinqennial review of the park.

National Parks

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of users of the railway stations at Tyndrum, Crianlarich and Balloch is estimated to be visitors to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

Sarah Boyack: This information is not held centrally.

  However, The State of the Park Report 2005 published by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority (available on the National Park Authority’s website www.lochlomond-trossachs.org and a copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, Bib number 36974) provides information on The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Visitor Survey 2003, in which 5% of people interviewed said they used public bus or train services to visit the National Park.

  All three railway stations are located within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

National Parks

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the contribution of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park to local tourism.

Sarah Boyack: The National Park Authority has published the State of the Park Report 2005 . This report provides information on visitor numbers and their characteristics until 2003. This report is available from the park authority’s website www.lochlomond-trossachs.org and a copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 36974).

  Currently, the National Park Authority, along with key partners such as the Enterprise Network, is following a Destination Management approach for the National Park. This approach is led by the tourism industry with support from the agencies and is based on tourism businesses and the relevant agencies coming together to agree a joint vision for the "destination" and to develop an action plan with responsibility for the actions assigned to the relevant partners.

Ports

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered what the impact would be of an acquisition of Clydeport by a foreign buyer; what effect such an acquisition would have on Glasgow and its economy, and what action it plans to take on the matter.

Tavish Scott: We are not aware of any proposals for acquisition of Clydeport by a foreign buyer.

Public Transport

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent in the Stirling local authority area in each year since 1999 on (a) Bus Service Operators Grant, (b) Bus Route Development Grant, (c) the Rural Community Transport Initiative, (d) the Rural Public Passenger Transport Grants Scheme, (e) demand-responsive transport and (f) public transport and integrated transport funds.

Tavish Scott: Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) is paid to operators of local registered bus services. Figures cannot be given below the level of a Scotland-wide figure as the information is commercially sensitive.

  Stirling Council has not submitted an application for Bus Route Development Grant funding.

  The following table shows the amounts spent in the Stirling local authority area each year since 1999 under the Rural Community Transport Initiative, Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant Scheme and the Demand Responsive Transport Grant Scheme.

  

 
Rural Community Transport Initiative(£)
Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant(£)
Demand Responsive Transport Grant(£)


1998-99
 2,000
 80,000
 0


1999-2000
 38,850
 80,000
 0


2000-01
 16,491
 85,000
 0


2001-02
 12,351
 100,000
 0


2002-03
 12,950
 108,000
 0


2003-04
 27,172
 118,000
 0


2004-05
 27,455
 133,000
 0


2005-06
 27,776
 139,000
 0


2006-07
 28,989
 143,000
 0



  Since 1999 Stirling Council has received three awards under the Public Transport Fund since 1999, as set out as follows. The years shown are the financial years in which the money was allocated. These will differ from actual expenditure as given in the annual section 70 reports.

  Stirling Bus Priority - £150,000 (2000-01); £297,000 (2001-02).

  Access to Stirling, Dunblane and Bridge of Allan rail stations - £238,000 (2002-03); £900,000 (2003-04); £303,000 (2004-05).

  East-West Public Transport Corridor - £1,126,000 (2003-04); £493,000 (2004-05); £936,000 (2005-06) (Note: Due to delays in progress, this award has still to be fully used. Agreement has been reached with TACTRAN that it will assume responsibility for completion of this project from April 2007, using the remaining funding).

  Stirling Council has also benefited from Integrated Transport Fund spending on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line.

Rail Network

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase security on the rail system.

Tavish Scott: Rail Security is reserved to the UK Government.

  However, Transport Scotland, through the First ScotRail Franchise, deliver schemes which improve security on First ScotRail trains, and at stations managed by First ScotRail.

  The franchise agreement includes capital expenditure worth over £4 million for improvements relating to security at stations and a programme of CCTV fitment to trains. In addition, I recently announced the Small Rail Projects Fund which includes proposals for investment at stations and on trains which will improve railway security in Scotland.

Roads

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31677 by Tavish Scott on 19 February 2007, how the progress of major road works, such as the repairs undertaken to the A7 at Langholm in January 2007, is monitored and how it ensures that inconvenience to the public and local businesses caused by trunk road closures is kept to a minimum.

Tavish Scott: The implementation of major roadworks, such as those undertaken on the A7 at Langholm, is managed and monitored by the trunk road operating company on behalf of Transport Scotland. Careful planning of roadworks is important in reducing the impact on local communities. Trunk road operating companies are required to carry out consultation with the local community and local businesses affected by roadworks. They also discuss arrangements with the police and local authorities and, through that process, decide on the best time and method of undertaking the works.

  The closures and works in Langholm were developed through very close liaison with the local community council and local traders. In addition the Road Haulage Association, bus operators and other statutory consultees were consulted. During the closure Amey had full-time staff monitoring the work and placed sentries at either side of the diversions to advise road users of the best alternative routes to take and to distribute leaflets. The works were supervised at all times by an experienced Amey road engineer with good local knowledge.

  As a result of ongoing consultation with the local community during the works, Amey agreed that additional works at Ashley Bank and Thomas Telford junction would be carried out during the closure to avoid a future closure and minimise any further disruption to the local community.

  Transport Scotland and Amey met with the local community council and local traders in Langholm on 2 March 2007 to review the works and reflect if any alternative strategies for future works affecting Langholm would be appropriate.

  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for further information if required.

Scottish Enterprise

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how successful Scottish Enterprise has been in attracting inward investment and new international companies to the Stirling local authority area.

Nicol Stephen: In the five years to March 2006, Scottish Development International and its partners helped attract six projects to Stirling local authority area involving planned investment of £39.709 million and the planned creation or safeguarding of 990 jobs.

  Scottish Development International continues to work closely with Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley to develop appropriate inward investment opportunities for the area.

Scottish Executive Funding

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cultural and related services grant aided expenditure and net revenue expenditure was for Stirling Council in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  

 
Grant Aided Expenditure Allocations
(£ Million)
Revenue Expenditure
(£ Million)


1999-2000
 5.449
 7.398


2000-01
 5.430
 7.971


2001-02
 5.567
 7.141


2002-03
 5.930
 7.890


2003-04
 6.260
 7.751


2004-05
 6.559
 8.872


2005-06
 6.818
 9.046


2006-07
 6.688
 -



  Notes:

  1. Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) figures are from the GAE Green Books for 1999-2000 to 2006-07. The GAE allocations provided are derived from aggregating a number of sub-categories which together make up the cultural and related services GAE line.

  2. Revenue expenditure is sourced from Local Financial Returns (LFR) 2 and 8, completed by local authorities, which cover culture and related services. Expenditure figures for 2006-07 are not yet available.

  3. Revenue spending may differ from the GAE allocation amounts for a number of reasons. First, the GAE allocations given above are neither budgets nor spending targets for culture and related services. They are simply components used in distributing the total block grant that the Executive provides to local authorities. Second, it is for each local authority to decide how best to allocate the resulting overall block grant across all their services, based on local needs and priorities.

  4. Although the total GAE provision for culture and related services in Scotland increased in 2006-07, Stirling’s share using the relative needs-based formula decreased.

Sex Offenders

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the re-offending rate was of sex offenders who (a) attended and (b) did not attend the Sex Offender Treatment Programme in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is not available. The only available information is on reconviction rates for those originally convicted of crimes of indecency and is supplied in the following table.

  Persons Released from a Custodial Sentence or given a Non-Custodial Sentence, 1998-99 to 2002-03. Percentage Reconvicted Within Two Years

  

 
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03


Those originally convicted of crimes of indecency1
 19
 17
 19
 17
 17



  Note: 1. Including rape, attempted rape, indecent assault, lewd and libidinous practices, other indecency and breach of a sex offender order. Excludes prostitution offences.

Sex Offenders

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many sex offenders released on licence were recalled to prison (a) after and (b) without committing a further crime in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Information is only available from 2004-05. The figures are 2004-05: 35; 2005-06: 45. The SPS does not hold information on the reasons for their recall to custody.

Small Businesses

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small business start-ups there were in the Stirling local authority area in the last three years and how this number and the rate of business start-ups in the area compare with the average across Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: Data on the number of VAT registrations and de-registrations are released annually by the Small Business Service, an agency of the Department for Trade and Industry. These figures are used to monitor the number of business start-ups and closures; they are not available by business size.

  These figures do not account for all UK business activity as only companies with a turnover above the VAT threshold are required to register.

  The following table shows the latest figures on the number of VAT registrations and the VAT registration rate per 10,000 resident adults for the Stirling local authority area and in Scotland for the period 2003 to 2005:

  

 Local Authority
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Registrations
 
 
 


 Stirling local authority area
 300
 270
 270


 Scotland
 11,980
 11,980
 11,525


 Registration Rate per 10,000 Resident Adults
 
 
 


 Stirling local authority area
 43
 39
 39


 Scotland
 29
 29
 28



  Source: Small Business Service, DTI.

Correction

The reply to question S2W-31895 which was originally answered on 2 March 2007, has been corrected: see page 10084 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-07/wa0308.htm.